By Neil Ravenscroft
September 30 2004

Paul Merson has made a U-Turn in his intentions on how the team should play, as he ditches the "gung ho", "we'll score one more than you" approach. Paul Merson seems to have made a u-turn in his tactics, according to his statements to the Evening Mail, following Tuesday night's LDV Trophy won against Rushden and Diamonds.

He said:-

"It was a massively important result. People will come in tomorrow bubbling and chirpy, and the pleasing thing was that we kept a clean sheet. I would rather win with a clean sheet than 5-1. The defence is getting better and better."

This seems to be in complete contrast with his statements pre season and may, at last, be a sign of his growing maturity as a Manager.

All great sides have been built upon a solidity at the back, even those which have had a reputation for attacking, as Arsenal's defensive record last season shows. Merson's own former Manager, George Graham, said in his autobiography that he never used to coach most of the squad himself during the week and concentrated on the central midfield two and the back four.

Merson's weak defense has been the main reason for Walsall's miserable slide intot he relegation zone during September and this may be the sign of better things to come.

Personally, I still believe that, if he is to make a success of this job, he desperately needs some coaches who know how to defend.

His other major weakness, that of being a "Tinkerman" also looks like it may be going out of the window, as the Evening Mail says he is likely to go with an unchanged side to Huddersfield on Saturday.